In Love Through a Prism, Lili has always dreamed of becoming an artist. From a young age, she showed clear talent. However, as a young woman, pursuing art seriously is treated as an indulgence she can’t afford. Like her artistic grandmother before her, Lili is pressured to abandon her “childish” dreams and fulfill her expected role as a wife and mother.
This review covers the first 3 chapters of the manga adaptation + first 2 episodes of the anime. Content Warnings: casual racism / micro-aggressions
Her mother issues her an ultimatum. Lili must spend six months at a prestigious arts academy in London, if Lili can become the number one student, she can continue pursuing art. If she fails, she must return to Japan and accept an arranged marriage that has already been planned for her. The challenge is meant to crush her, but Lili decides to bet on herself, even when no one else will.
The Story
When Lili travels from Japan to attend the arts academy, she arrives determined to prove that she belongs there, but the pressure is on. Lili meets the headmaster on her first day, who reminds her that she isn’t just a student at this prestigious school, she also represents all of Japan as well!
Lili quickly befriends Dorothy, a loud and friendly classmate whose curiosities occasionally veer into uncomfortable territory. She expects Lili to secretly be a ninja (a samurai in the anime) because from what she’s learned about Japan, “all Japanese people are ninjas.” So yeah….While Dorothy is otherwise likeable, some of the things she says might make you side-eye. In the manga Lili is more confused than defensive over this. In the anime, Lili stands her ground more and objects to Dorothy’s ignorance.
But things get more complicated when Lili meets her rival and would-be romantic counterpart, Kit Church.
He’s undeniably a talented artist, and Lili immediately recognizes his skill, especially his use of light. However, rather than letting this discourage her, his ability only sharpens her resolve. She’s going to beat him! In both the anime and the manga, this competition between them presents itself in much the same way.
However, in the manga, Kit comes off as more abrasive and rude; while in the anime he is softer and more socially inept than outright mean. He’s more of an awkward genius, too wrapped up in his work to care about social blunders.
There is one moment in the anime where Kit compares Lili to his horse. The scene cuts to a cartoonish horse with notable bucked teeth shaking about frantically (presumably this is what Lili is imagining in this moment?). So, I think I don’t need to explain why comparing an Asian person to a horse is messed up. Lili takes offense to it, and rightly so. The scene is mostly played for a laugh that doesn’t land. I’m given to understand that it was not intended to be a racist comment on Kit’s part (and in actuality is some great compliment).
Regardless of the intent, the moment came off quite racist.
So far, this scene doesn’t appear in the manga, even though he’s more mean-spirited on the page than the screen. While the story never frames the racially insensitive behavior as morally right, it does often play these moments as humorous. These characters do come from different backgrounds and cultures, and they live at a time when the world was a lot less globalized. However, this is a work of fiction, and while the racism may have some historical accuracy, I’d like to see these moments met with more seriousness instead of being played for laughs. Perhaps it will later on???
Overall the Love Through a Prism is engaging! You can’t help but root for Lili as she is doing her absolute best to make her dreams a reality. The narrative makes a point to discuss issues around women, gender roles, and race, so hopefully, as the story continues, it can tackle these topics with more seriousness rather than just using them to add flavor. It’s clear that there is a lot these characters can learn from each other, and that conflict could blossom into something worth reading/watching.
The Art
As expected in a story about artistic ambition, the artwork is lovely. The characters are expressive, and the backgrounds are detailed and immersive. The designs might remind you of 90s shojo manga (large, expressive eyes and extra sharp, angled chins) which gives the manga a nostalgic feel.
Overall I do think the anime outshines the manga.
The world feels more fully realized in motion and the details enhance the setting. However, this might be a hot take but…Kit looks MUCH better in the manga. Honestly, most of the characters do. Their hair in particular is more fluttery and dynamic on the page, while in the anime characters sometimes look flat.
Love Through a Prism : Anime or Manga???
Since the manga is an adaptation of the anime, I’d actually recommend watching it first. The manga cuts significant dialogue and alters character dynamics enough that the full emotional weight lands better on screen.
That said, the manga is still worth checking out, especially if you’ve already fallen hard for the story, which many romance fans have. Think of it as a companion piece rather than a full-on replacement.
The Details:
Love Through a Prism is an anime series produced by Netflix. The manga adaptation is illustrated by Maki Manami and released on Jan. 8, 2026. Currently, three chapters are available to read online via Shonen Jump+ and Manga Plus.
